Bill Nolan is one of the integral players who secured the international Burns Conference for Irvine. Having enjoyed a successful career in marketing and public relations, Bill now focuses his time on being the Vice President of the Association of European Rugby.

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

Having almost retired, I now provide communications and marketing advice, generate ideas and manage events for the local community of Irvine and North Ayrshire, largely on a voluntary basis. I do so because I want to share my experience and professional skills to improve people’s lives, simply because I want to give something back to the area in which I live and in which I continue to believe.

DO YOU HAVE A BEST FRIEND?

Not really but I have lots of close friends through common interest in music, sport, especially rugby, involvement in the local Burns Club and the Incorporated Trades, and a whole range of other activities in which I am, or have been, involved. Sadly, over the years, some of my closest friends have passed on but you learn to adjust and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

WHAT THREE ITEMS WOULD YOU TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND?

Certainly a Zodiac rigid inflatable dinghy with a powerful outboard to get me off the island! Other than that, I’d like to take my laptop but what’s the point if there’s no electricity? So I’d probably opt for a windup radio, my chef’s knives so that I can cook a good meal, and my guitar which, though Ihaven’t played it for ages, would give me something to do and remind me of fun days and good pals.

WHO IS YOUR IDEAL DINNER GUEST?

Other than Robert Burns, whom I’d love to question to discover what lies at the heart of genius, I’d choose Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, whose simple philosophy of passive resistance totally transformed two nations, and for a bit of glitter and glamour, I’d throw in Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn. I’d also invite Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona because my grandson wouldn’t believe that his hero would come to Irvine for dinner, and I’d invite Mary, my wife, as she’d find a dinner party like that irresistible and enjoyable – especially as I’d be doing the cooking!

DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS?

I don’t harbour regrets nor do I look backwards because there’s not a lot to be gained when you can do absolutely nothing to change things, other than learning from your mistakes. I have no regrets whatsoever about my professional career which took me all over the world, provided exciting and enjoyable opportunities and allowed me to meet many interesting people, and in that I consider myself to have been very fortunate.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCE?

Both of my parents were organisers in different ways and enriched people’s lives and, probably unknowingly, were a massive influence to the extent that communicating and organising events came naturally to me; they also provided me with a sense of social values and justice that have carried me through life. Externally, a major influence was Fr Anthony Ross, OP, the chaplain at Edinburgh University, who introduced me to Scottish History and Scottish Literature, and gave me an understanding, appreciation and love of Scotland, and what it means to be Scottish.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SONG? POEM?

Probably most of my business associates would suggest “My Way” but I couldn’t possibly comment! I am very fond of Burns’ “Ae Fond Kiss” which I regard as his greatest, and most poignant, love song and his “Tam O’Shanter” is simply a masterpiece of storytelling. John Lennon’s “Imagine” paints a picture of a world that, sadly, is still a long way off but we can but hope will happen, and I can relate to Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” because, particularly as you get older, memories become increasingly important as they let you recall the fun and laughter of the past and, especially, memories of those no longer with us.